REVIEWS Archives - Page 15 of 428

Murder on the Orient Express – Richmond Theatre

6Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Murder on the Orient Express – Richmond Theatre

On the famous Orient Express in between Istanbul and Calais, a disparate group of passengers are bound together. First by the train being forced to stop in a snowdrift and then by the discovery of a dead body, murder most foul! Who among them could have wielded the knife? Straight onto the case is the world-renowned Belgian (not French!) detective Hercule Poirot who uses his ‘little grey cells’ to unravel the mystery. Yes, this is Agatha Christie’s most iconic tale, now brought to life on the stage in an adaptation by Ken Ludwig, directed by Lucy Bailey. High praise to set designer Mike Britton for the fantastic train carriage set on display. The neat trick is making the carriages breakaway into different compartments which can be moved in and out of the set to bring us to the differ...

5Nov

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Come From Away – Wolverhampton Grand

From its first thumping, stomping almost tribal driving rhythms at the top of the show “Come From Away” sets out its stall clearly and emphatically not giving an inch and not compromising on its passionate message. As we probably all know by now, the show tells the tale of the little town of Gander in Northeastern Newfoundland, which threw open its doors and hearts to 7000 passengers who found themselves diverted from US air space on that notorious date September 11th 2001. Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s book, music and lyrics summarises the event and epitomise the humanity with panache, respect, dignity and kindness. 38 planes landed unexpectedly in Gander and everyone had to be accommodated. And they were as the entire community came together to help, support and care for hundreds of ...

The Election Monologues – Traverse Theatre

5Nov

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

The Election Monologues – Traverse Theatre

It was a privilege to be part of the audience for this unrehearsed reading of ‘The Election Monologues’ in the bar of the Traverse. This was a global theatrical event with readings also taking place on 4th November in England, Australia, Greece and the USA. Suzie Miller’s powerful script is based on interviews with librarians and doctors working in the state of Idaho, USA. Conceived by Abigail Gonda, this is intended to be a wake-up call on the eve of the US Presidential election. The message is clear: there is an attack on liberal democracy. Rights and freedoms we have taken for granted for decades are threatened. And the danger is not just to America. Far right activism and populism are evident in many countries including the UK. In 2022 the US Supreme Court overthrew the landma...

2024 Fireworks Festival – Alexandra Palace

5Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

2024 Fireworks Festival – Alexandra Palace

The 2024 Fireworks Festival at Alexandra Palace Park made a vibrant return, treating visitors to a dazzling display and a full evening of entertainment. Spanning the expansive grounds, the event featured activities and attractions spread across various areas, creating an atmosphere that was lively yet well-organized. From the outset, entering the park was a smooth experience. The event staff were attentive, efficiently managing the flow of guests and ensuring a welcoming and easy entry. Depending on your entrance, you were immediately immersed in the bustling energy of the festival. Inside the park, the variety of food trucks and bars added to the festive feel, offering an array of delicious options, including both meat and vegetarian choices. The bars were well-stocked, and the wint...

Pop Off, Michelangelo! – The Other Palace

5Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Pop Off, Michelangelo! – The Other Palace

If you asked me to describe my dream show, I’d probably tell you it would be a musical, with stupidly clever comedy, and plenty of niche pop culture references. Luckily for me, The Other Palace is serving up a shining example of this with Dylan MarcAurele’s Pop Off, Michelangelo!, directed by Joe McNeice. An unashamedly untrue retelling of how Renaissance artists Michelangelo (Max Eade) and Leonardo Da Vinci (Aidan MacColl) became frenemies, this show introduces us to the pair as young pals who soon realise they have something in common: they’re both gay, but can’t live as their truest selves out of fear of punishment by the church. Figuring out their simplest route to divine forgiveness is to win over someone who has a direct line to the big man himself, the friends head to art scho...

An Officer and a Gentleman – Hull New Theatre

5Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

An Officer and a Gentleman – Hull New Theatre

An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical got off to a delayed start on Monday evening with a voice emanating from the nether regions of the Hull New Theatre stage, informing us that “due to unforeseen circumstances the show will now start at 8pm”. We’d all taken our seats ready for curtain up at 7.30pm, so 30-minute delay sort of dimmed or excitement. No matter, I just hoped the show was worth waiting for. It most definitely was, so that delay I mentally grumbled about, was very soon forgotten. I had seen the movie (of the same name) upon which this musical is based, way back on its UK release in 1983, and could only remember its star, Richard Gere, resplendent in white naval uniform, doing something so breathtakingly romantic that the scene has stayed with me all these years later....

The Ritual – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

5Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Ritual – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Is there a better example of Vampire Clowning in the UK? I doubt it. The Ritual, my favourite show of the annual Edinburgh Horror Festival, sees the charismatic duo, Gregory Lass and Steffens Hanes team up once again, ably assisted by ‘Emily’, their gate closing, vape puffing (smoke machine) tech wizard who brings it all together rather beautifully. Imagine Fawlty Towers’ Manuel and Basil as vampires and you get an idea of the hilarious roles that Lass and Hanes take on stage. The sycophantic servant, who tries hard but always falls short, and the master who demands perfection and ends up a little deranged trying to achieve it. The beauty here, is that although the roles are very clearly defined, there is also plenty of ‘air’ in this performance, leaving ample room for improvisat...

A Gift of Nightmares – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

5Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

A Gift of Nightmares – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Storyteller, Ines Alvarez Villa, brings to vivid life two stories of her own creation in the deep-padded luxury of the Cinema Room at Banshee Labyrinth. Thankfully, background noise is low (not always the case!) and we are able to sink into the colourful fabric that Ines weaves for us. Both stories are allegorical and centre around the danger of averice, of excessive greed of always wanting more, and prioritising personal gain over integrity. In the first, caution is cast aside when a group of sailors happen upon an abandoned galley. Unable to resist, their curiosity gets the better of them, and whilst they reap the treasure rewards from the silent ship, they also inadvertently invite something else along for the ride! The second, which I preferred, is more in the style of classi...

Spooky and Gay – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

5Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Spooky and Gay – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Orlandoan, Bruce Ryan Costella packs a lot into this hour long show at Banshee Labyrinth as part of the Edinburgh Horror Festival, maybe too much. Arcing from queer Halloween fairy tales through cowboy folk tales to real life gay bar shootings, with a splash of cheery then sad ukulele tunes thrown in for good measure. Uplifting in places, spooky at times, then desperately sad, it is all a bit of a rollercoaster to be honest. Costella’s, Orlando homage ends rather unfunnily with his recounting of the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Florida in 2016, where 49 people died, and 53 were seriously injured. The overriding emotion at the conclusion of the show is of a man desperately trying to save himself with humour in spite of an overwhelming burden of grief. Which probably exp...

Stand Up Horror – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

5Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Stand Up Horror – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Alex Staniforth, actor, writer and tour guide is an old hand at the Edinburgh Horror Festival, and a regular performer at Banshee Labyrinth throughout the year, and it shows. His easy and warm interaction with the room between generous gulps from his pint allows the group to relax together and the story that unfolds between them to flow organically, and hilariously. The small size of the audience in the intimate Cave Bar space ensures that everyone contributes - whether they want to or not! The story as it develops under Staniforth’s tutelage is guaranteed to take some unlikely turns, and tonight is no exception. Elon Musk makes an unscheduled appearance, making our heroine an offer she can’t refuse for her flying keyboard, meanwhile the hordes of zombies heading for Edinburgh Ca...